Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – SPORTEC SUB1000 and FERDINAND S compared

If you ask 100 people what they think of first when they think of Switzerland, the top answers are probably luxury watches, banks or cheese fondue. The Swiss are considered to be calm, level-headed contemporaries. But when it comes to cars, a different wind seems to be blowing in the Alpine republic. Instead of Volkswagen, there was the luxury brand Monteverdi in the Swiss automotive world. For decades, Sauber’s Prototypes and Formula 1 cars have stood for motorsport expertise at the very highest level. Since 1997, SPORTEC has also joined this ranks as a vehicle manufacturer. We were able to test the new SPORTEC SUB1000 and FERDINAND S backdates on site and compare them directly.

Where airplanes take off and land, SPORTEC builds driving machines

Near Zurich Airport, SPORTEC creates Porsche 911 backdates for every taste – “driving machines”, as the Swiss affectionately call them. In addition to the special aesthetics, SPORTEC focuses on technology in particular with many in-house developments. “Every SPORTEC driving machine contains hundreds of parts developed and manufactured in-house from state-of-the-art materials,” explains Lukas Neyer. Engines, chassis tuning, milled parts and much more are created here.

After touring the workshop, it’s clear where the phrase “Swiss precision” comes from. Everything has its place, each of the 30 employees works calmly and with utmost precision. Interactive exploded views and assembly instructions are available for all vehicle components. This meticulous documentation is not an end in itself, as Lukas says: “It enables us to guarantee technical support anywhere in the world. Every workshop familiar with Porsche can also work on a SPORTEC driving machine for maintenance and servicing”. An invaluable advantage for SPORTEC drivers. And as all SPORTEC Backdates are 100 per cent road-legal in Switzerland, they are virtually everywhere.

Every workshop familiar with Porsche can also work on a SPORTEC driving machine for maintenance and servicing.

Lukas Neyer, SPORTEC

SPORTEC SUB1000 and FERDINAND S – Pure-bred sports car meets work of art on four wheels

Two perfectly prepared driving machines are already waiting for us outside the hall gates. Both could hardly be more different – the SPORTEC SUB1000 and the FERDINAND S. They are unmistakably new interpretations of the 911, but in two completely different designs. This becomes clear at first glance.

The beige-grey painted SUB1000 is bursting with sportiness. The orange spokes in the rims immediately draw the eye to the three-color painted wheels in Fuchs design. Semi-slicks in 16 inch with relatively large tire sidewalls give it the look of a classic racing car. The roll bar and the reduced interior give it away: This athlete based on the G-model – the 911 Carrera 3.2 to be precise – makes no compromises.

Opposite it is the FERDINAND S, the logical evolution the FERDINAND. Even the high-gloss rim flange and the muted color scheme hint at the contrasting philosophy. This is not a pure racer, but a Porsche 964 Backdate refined from front to back. If you walk around the car, there are so many beautiful details, such as the boot lid with Ducktail, that you almost see it as a complete work of art.

SUB1000: Mr. Hyde in lightweight guise

Nomen est omen: The designation SUB1000 naturally refers to its weight. At 990 kilograms ready to drive, the Backdate remained below the magic 1,000 kilogram limit. This makes it conceptually the most extreme of all SPORTECs and was made possible by the complete absence of insulation, the use of modern technology and the materials carbon and thin glass.

Its 3.4 liter, 315 hp six-cylinder boxer engine naturally has an easy time with the flyweight. SPORTEC promises 3.9 seconds from zero to one hundred km/h – in other words, on par with a Porsche 992 GT3 Touring. To cope with this increase in performance, the Swiss reinforced the chassis with additional welding points.

To widen the SUB1000’s track, SPORTEC opted for 16-inch wheels with negative offset. That enables a 60 millimeter wider stance on both axles without having to use actual wheel spacers. “This makes it look beefier without compromising the driving dynamics,” explains Lukas. Thanks to an upgrade brake system with perforated and internally ventilated brake discs (300 mm diameter at the front, 290 mm at the rear) and larger brake calipers, braking is also up to standard. The braking distance from 100-0km/h is between 33.9 and 35.9 meters – without ABS, mind you!

Material poetry and Wild West charm on the inside

A wonderful leather scent wafts around your nose as you get in. The SUB1000’s interior features leather in Vintage Dark Brown with coarse black cross-stitching, paired with fabric in Jeans Mushroom, which looks like a noble reminiscence of historical jute sack textures. The door latches pick up on the dark cross-stitch of the Recaro Pole Position seats. In combination with the black finish of the seat consoles and roll cage, this adds a touch of Wild West charm. An anticipation of a particularly exciting driving experience?!

But that’s not all. The Swiss engineers developed countless interior components themselves, which now result in a fantastic mix of materials. Almost everything in SPORTEC cars is tailor-made from scratch. Behind the dished Momo steering wheel, which sits on a hub extension, SPORTEC fitted specially designed steering control stalks from solid aluminum. They give an extremely positive feedback and sit exactly where you would expect them to.

The same applies to the handbrake and the beguilingly beautiful and perfectly positioned shifter. With all these measures, SPORTEC has also taken the haptic feel of the SUB1000 to a whole new level. One design feature runs through the whole car: All round parts have surrounds with nine or eleven circles – from the ignition lock surround to the wiper interval control. The champagne anodized parts also match the rest of the interior perfectly in terms of colour.

SPORTEC Backdates draw a lot of positive attention

A quick adjustment of the mirrors and seat and we set off in the sinewy SPORTEC racer. The handling is no more complicated than in the regular G-Model and raises no questions. What I wasn’t prepared for: We have barely rolled out of the yard when the first passer-by gives us the thumbs up. Shortly afterwards, two cars in a row, thumbs up again. At the first photo stop with a view towards Zurich Airport, it becomes a series. Whether this was due to the relaxed Swiss attitude or the cars themselves remains to be seen. One thing is certain: SPORTEC Restomods are well received in public.

The steering of the SUB1000 is a sensation!

But the most important things is obviously, how it drives, especially considering its almost anorexic weight. The steering in particular makes a positive impression from the very first turn. Although there is no power steering, it is by no means stiff. Despite the relatively high tire flanks, there is almost no noticeable delay between the initial steering input and the change of direction in the SUB1000 – it’s almost instant!

I have never experienced such a direct steering on this side of a Lotus Super Seven. In short: the SUB1000’s steering is a sensation! Especially as the feedback is a prime example of transparency. Grip and cornering speeds are also beyond reproach. The lateral acceleration that the SUB1000 can generate is on a par with many modern sports cars – and that’s without any aerodynamic downforce.

I have never experienced such a direct steering on this side of a Lotus Super Seven. In short: the SUB1000’s steering is a sensation!

Richard Lindhorst, Elferspot

Of course, the suspension must also be designed accordingly to enable this directness. The high reactivity of the SUB1000 is partly achieved with relatively hard springs. Its very firm design is noticeable over large undulations. However, the 3-way suspension, which SPORTEC developed in cooperation with MCS especially for this Backdate, can be adjusted in the trunk and directly behind the seats in the interior in no time at all. If you would like a little more comfort, you can adjust the damping to make it more comfortable.

Revvy nature, endless power and a sound between classic and punk rock

A vehicle so consistently trimmed for low weight naturally reveals a very diverse soundscape. In the SUB1000, a lot of mechanics mingle with the timbre of the in-house developed exhaust system. The specially manufactured intake system with individual throttle bodies also plays a symphony to kneel down to. It is accompanied by the equally impressive acoustics of the multi-plate limited slip differential with 60 percent locking effect and the fascinating noise of the oil flows.

The 3.4-liter unit with 315 hp – 3.6 liters and 345 hp are also available – is a real sports engine. Although it is not stubborn at low revs, above 4,000 rpm it feels as if the curtain has been torn open and Mr. Hyde has emerged. This engine revs so willingly towards the limiter, as you would expect from a four-valve engine. The SUB1000 spurts off with impressive vehemence. At 3.9 seconds, it accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h just as quickly as a 992 GT3 Touring. I have never experienced such acceleration in any 911 G-Model. Insane!

What particularly distinguishes the SUB1000 is the completely modernized electrics. Several digital control units and an equally digital fuse box, a motorsport wiring harness and modern sensors on the engine in combination with sequential injection and a single-spark ignition system ensure the excellent drivability and road approval of the racing engine.

Lukas Neyer, SPORTEC

Accompanied by tremendous acoustics, it is clear that the SPORTEC virtually spurs its driver on to ever new heights. The SUB1000 gives you the feeling of controlling an orchestra with your right foot that can play classical music and punk rock in equal measure. When the road is clear, it turns every kilometer into a new, exciting chapter. Although this is not for the faint-hearted in the long run, regarding the acoustics in the car, it is simply addictive on winding country roads!

FERDINAND S: Dr. Jekyll with a Ducktail

If the SUB1000 is Mr. Hyde, the FERDINAND S is Dr. Jekyll. It proudly bears the name of Porsche founder Ferdinand Porsche. It is an elegant Backdate 911 based on the 964-generation, with a Dark Blue exterior, 17-inch Fuchs design wheels and a carbon rear lid with Ducktail. The interior combines sporty components such as optional bucket seats with materials of the very highest quality. Its Blue Nocturne leather is lighter than the exterior color and, in combination with the white decorative stitching, as well as door trims and headlining in Loden light blue and titanium anodized applications, exudes lightness and class in equal measure.

At SPORTEC, they call the interior concept “Zero Plastic Mentality”, Lukas Neyer tells me. In concrete terms, this means that “almost all plastic controls are replaced by milled parts made of aluminum”. Even for the Porsche Classic Communication Management System, there are rotary controls in SPORTEC design. The rest of the radio will also soon shine in the same titanium-coloured anodized sheen as the beautiful fan control to the left, whose controls provide wonderfully tactile feedback.

360 hp and 420 Nm of torque meet 1,180 kilograms

Anyone who now thinks that the FERDINAND S is just a nice cruiser is completely mistaken, though. At 1,180 kilograms, it weighs a full 40 kilograms less than the lightest 964 Carrera RS variant. Additional spot welds for greater rigidity are just as much a part of the package as weight savings thanks to bumpers, trunk lid and hood made of different lightweight materials. The rear triangular windows are made of Makrolon – as in the SUB1000 – and the rear window is made of thin glass.

The SPORTEC FERDINAND S is based on the Porsche 964, but is 40 kilograms lighter and 100 hp more powerful than a Carrera RS!

The Zurich-based Porsche tuners have also fundamentally changed the engine. Thanks to modified cylinder heads, an increase in displacement from 3.6 to 4.0 liters and an in-house developed intake and exhaust system, the FERDINAND S has 360 hp. That’s another 100 hp more than in the Carrera RS. Its torque of 420 Nm is on a par with the DFI engine in the 997.2 Carrera S.

Its engine electronics are also at the same level. SPORTEC has implanted the air-cooled FERDINAND S with a drive-by-wire system with electronic throttle valve and modern control unit, which enables even finer engine tuning. The result is astonishing: the FERDINAND S responds extremely cleanly in all engine speed ranges and offers unimagined performance reserves. From as little as 3,000 rpm, the engine is already moving forward powerfully. At its peak, the SUB1000 takes a few meters off, but that is complaining at an exceptionally high level.

Confident on the pass, fine at the limit, rideable in everyday life

The earlier usable torque of the FERDINAND S can be seen as synonymous with the very wide range of applications of the second Höri backdate. Its more modern 964 platform is noticeable as soon as you set off. Transmission, clutch, steering – the interplay feels wonderfully harmonious. The throttle response via drive-by-wire is direct, and it reacts sensitively but never nervously when the accelerator is released.

Thanks to a two-way suspension, which was also specially developed with MCS for the FERDINAND S, SPORTEC eliminated the typical pitching and rolling movements of the Porsche 964 during harsh load changes. The chassis appears to have been detoxified. And with its Michelin Pilot Sport 4S in the dimensions 225/45 at the front and 255/40 at the rear, this SPORTEC also has more than enough grip to offer. At the same time, the transition to a slight drift is as smooth as butter with the rear remaining friendly and predictable. The larger brake system with internally ventilated and perforated 320 or 298 millimeter brake discs, upgrade brake calipers, motorsport ABS and optional sports brake pads decelerates reliably even under heavy loads and offers a pedal feel that only a Porsche can.

The generally less race-focused design of the FERDINAND S makes it an incredibly good companion for any occasion. It is confident on winding and even undulating country roads and absorbs even short bumps very well. In addition, it remains friendly and finely controllable at the limit and at the same time extremely suitable for everyday use. Admittedly, it sounds clichéd, but the SPORTEC FERDINAND S might actually be the Swiss army knife of Porsche Backdates.

Two philosophies, one claim

SPORTEC calls its creations driving machines. Lukas Neyer sums it up as follows: “The SUB1000 is our interpretation of lightweight construction and motorsport in the backdate and restomod sector – perfect, purist, classic and built for special moments on the road.” The Swiss company gave the modern driving FERDINAND S the fitting slogan “Backdate to the future”.

If a part is not available or not in the right quality, it is designed in-house.

Both have the same attitude: everything must serve the intended purpose one hundred percent. If a part is not available or not of the right quality, it is designed in-house. This is why there are so many components developed by SPORTEC – and why they are also available individually, from the control stalks to the exhaust system and the complete interior. State-of-the-art features such as inductive charging or heated windscreens have long been standard at SPORTEC.

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However, the team from Höri not only builds individual pieces, but also thinks in systems. Any workshop with Porsche experience can work on a SPORTEC vehicle. Electronic exploded drawings and assembly instructions are provided for this purpose – not because something is vulnerable, but because precision can thus be planned; everywhere. Thanks to modern control units based on the CAN-BUS system, timely diagnostics and even software adjustments are possible remotely at any time – without a direct visit to Höri.

SPORTEC has the right backdate for every day

The SUB1000 is not a Cars-&-Coffee Backdate. It belongs on the mountain pass or the race track. There it can show what it and its driver are made of. Because although it can keep up with a modern 911 GT3 in many disciplines, it requires more courage and more commitment. You have to be on your toes to keep up with its performance. A vehicle based on the Porsche 911 G-model is unlikely to offer this kind of performance a second time.

The FERDINAND S impresses with its versatility: whether it’s fetching bread rolls or letting off steam at the pass, this Backdate 911 can do it all. It is quieter and not as raw as the SUB1000, but never anemic. It probably comes very close to the vision that its namesake once had for the 911. It is a sports car for every day, with no ifs or buts.

Quality takes time… and has its price

Of course, the bottom line is the price. A good 720,000 Swiss francs are needed for a FERDINAND S, 550,000 francs for a SUB1000 – these costs include the basic vehicle, VAT and an average configuration. At the end of the process, which takes 14 to 16 months, the customer receives a SPORTEC vehicle that has been restored and customized down to the last screw – in the knowledge that there will currently be between five and six cars built every year. Up to ten are planned for the future.

Both driving machines are convincing in their very own way. The SUB1000 pushes the boundaries of what is imaginable in terms of performance in the G-Model. The FERDINAND S builds a bridge to modernity in a classic guise without blurring the myth. What both have in common is an unparalleled obsession with driving performance, material appearance, feel and function. Chapeau SPORTEC!

Richard Lindhorst, Elferspot

Photos: David Fierlinger, Elferspot